ASEAN bolsters development of smart, sustainable cities
The Sixth Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) opened in Bali, Indonesia, on July 12 with the participation of representatives of national and local governments across the region.
The Sixth Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) opens in Bali, Indonesia, July 12. (Photo: asean.org)
Jakarta (VNA) - The Sixth Annual Meeting of 🥀the ASEANSmart Cities Network (ASCN) opened in Bali, Indonesia, on July 12 with the participation ofrepresentatives of national and local governments across the region.
Representativesfrom Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Japan’s Ministry of Land,Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land,Infrastructure, and Transport; and the Seoul National University attended themeeting to exchange views on how to enhance existing cooperation and catalysenew partnerships.
Opening the event, Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian mentionedthat the governments need to continue pushing the implementation of SmartCities by building a strong foundation to face the urbanisation challenges, and capacity to adapt to the industrialrevolution.
In his pre-recorded speech, Secretary-General of ASEANDr Kao Kim Hourn commended Indonesia’s unwavering commitment to the developmentof smart and sustainable cities in the region.
Hehighlighted three key points to further ASEAN’s efforts in promoting smart andsustainable cities, namely sharing knowledge and learnings within and betweencities and with national governments, strengthening cooperation inevidence-based city planning and management to realise a more liveable urbanenvironment in ASEAN, and promoting more public-private-people partnerships toseize smart city opportunities.
Dr. Safrizal ZA, DirectorGeneral of Regional Administration of Indonesia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, held that collaboration in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network can address thepressing challenges faced by cities and explore innovative solutions tofoster sustainable urban development.
At the two-day meetings, participants have discussed the implementation of ASCN smartcity projects, development of ASEAN smart city inves🌞tment t🍎oolkit, andexpansion of ASCN membership./.
Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha chaired the 3rd conference of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) on July 17, in the form of a videoconference.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi on December 16 spoke highly of the Japanese Government’s persistent support in enhancing smart cities cooperation with ASEAN.
Vietnam will promote cooperation with partners in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) while working with relevant agencies and localities to increase development chances, especially technological application in the COVID-19 fight, the Ministry of Construction said at the fourth annual meeting of the ASCN which was held in the form of videoconference on August 30.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
The Sixth Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) opens in Bali, Indonesia, July 12. (Photo: asean.org) 
